Volunteer Pilot Protection Act of 2011

S. 223 — 112th Congress
(2011–2012)

Summary

A bill to modernize the air traffic control system, improve the safety, reliability, and availability of transportation by air in the United States, provide modernization of the air traffic control system, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes. (by CRS)

A bill to modernize the air traffic control system, improve the safety, reliability, and availability of transportation by air in the United States, provide modernization of the air traffic control system, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.

To require the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to reconsider certain applications from airports to authorize passenger and property screening to be carried out by a qualified private screening company and to report to congress if the Under Secretary denies any such application.

To exclude employees of the Transportation Security Administration from the collective bargaining rights of Federal employees and provide employment rights and an employee engagement mechanism for passenger and property screeners.

To reduce the total amount authorized to be appropriated for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal year 2011 to the total amount authorized to be appropriated for the Administration for fiscal year 2008.

To amend title 1 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include nonprofit and volunteer ground and air ambulance crew members and first responders for certain benefits, and to clarify the liability protection for volunteer pilots that fly for public benefit.

To authorize the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to authorize general aviation airport sponsors to allocate mineral revenues not needed to carry out 5-year projected airport maintenance needs for other transportation infrastructure projects.

To impose a criminal penalty for unauthorized recording or distribution of images produced using advanced imaging technology during screenings of individuals at airports and upon entry to Federal buildings.

Actions

Full Text of this Amendment

SA 85. Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Tester) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 58 proposed by Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Tester) to the bill S. 223, to modernize the air traffic control
system, improve the safety, reliability, and availability of transportation by air in the United States, provide modernization of the air traffic control system, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Beginning on page 2 of the amendment, strike line 18 and all that follows through page 3, line 21, and insert the following:
"(b) Exception.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual who, while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties, distributes, photographs, or otherwise records an image described in subsection (a) during the course of authorized intelligence activities, a Federal, State, or local criminal investigation or prosecution, or other lawful activities by Federal, State, or local authorities, including training for intelligence or law enforcement
purposes.
"(c) Penalty.--An individual who violates the prohibition in subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
"(d) Advanced Imaging Technology Defined.--In this section, the term `advanced imaging technology'--
"(1) means a device that creates a visual image of an individual showing the surface of the skin beneath clothing and revealing other objects on the body that are covered by clothing; and
"(2) may include devices using backscatter x-rays or millimeter waves and devices referred to as `whole-body imaging technology' or `body scanning'.".
(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Feb 14, 2011.)

Organizations that took a position on
Volunteer Pilot Protection Act of 2011: Amendment SA 85 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

0 organizations supported this amendment

0 organizations opposed this amendment

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Includes reported contributions to congressional campaigns of Senators in office on day of vote, from interest groups invested in the vote according to MapLight, January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2012.Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org